Oct 31, 2025 Right to Repair South Africa (R2RSA), Kate Elliott, Right to Repair Conference, Association of Data Publishers for the Automotive Aftermarket (ADPA), Pierre Thibaudat,
Unlocking repair data - Why including data publishers in SA’s Right to Repair framework is critical
The global and local conversation around access to vehicle data is intensifying, and for good reason. In a highly diverse local market, where more than 30 major brands require navigating multiple OEM systems daily, vehicles have become increasingly complex and software-driven. The only way independent service providers (ISPs) in the automotive aftermarket can compete fairly and keep vehicles safely on the road, is if they have timely and affordable access to technical repair data.
This was the key discussion point at this week’s Right to Repair Conference at Automechanika, focusing on ‘Access to Technical Information – A Vital Piece in the Puzzle.’ Kate Elliott, CEO of Right to Repair South Africa (R2RSA), stressed the urgency of the situation, saying that while the Guidelines for Competition in the South African Automotive Aftermarket make it mandatory for OEMs to provide independent workshops with access to technical information, in practice this access remains challenging and costly. “Technical information is the lifeblood of the modern aftermarket. Without access, independent workshops cannot compete on a level playing field, which ultimately impacts consumer choice and affordability,” she said.
The conference made clear that including data publishers in South Africa’s Guidelines for Competition in the Automotive Aftermarket is critical to addressing these barriers.
According to Pierre Thibaudat, Director General of the Association of Data Publishers for the Automotive Aftermarket (ADPA), data publishers have become the backbone of the European repair ecosystem. “In the EU, data publishers bridge the gap between vehicle manufacturers and the independent aftermarket by aggregating, standardising and securely distributing repair information,” he explains. “This enables competition, innovation and consumer choice while maintaining strict data protection standards.”
ADPA brings together 18 members, including 12 publishers, who purchase, analyse and harmonise OEM data to create multi-brand solutions used by workshops, distributors and service networks across Europe. “Data publishers provide a single, consistent source of technical information across all makes and models,” says Thibaudat. “That means one subscription, one access point and one standardised interface - saving workshops time, money and frustration.”
The European model, supported by robust legislation such as the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation, Type Approval Regulation and the EU Data Act, has created a fair, transparent and highly efficient system. Thibaudat believes South Africa can take inspiration from this approach. “It’s not about challenging OEMs’ rights - it’s about ensuring that the aftermarket can function in a compliant, sustainable way,” he says. “When data publishers are formally recognised, everyone benefits - from workshops and parts distributors to motorists.”
Locally, data publisher experts share this sentiment. Dereck Knight, Technical Service and Support Africa for Bosch Automotive Aftermarket, notes that the lack of standardised access to vehicle data remains one of the greatest challenges for South African workshops. “Each manufacturer provides information in different formats and at different times,” he explains. “This makes it costly and complex for independent workshops to obtain accurate, up-to-date repair data.” Knight adds that Bosch, like other responsible data publishers locally, invests heavily in encryption, controlled access and secure licensing models to ensure OEM information is protected. “We fully respect the intellectual property of vehicle manufacturers. Our goal is to make essential repair and maintenance information accessible, secure and practical – not to replicate proprietary design data,” he says.
The value of this approach was reinforced by Gunther Schmitz, R2R Chairman and owner of AutoWORKS. Speaking from a local workshop perspective, Schmitz said that when independents have to send vehicles to dealerships for software updates or to decode proprietary fault data, turnaround times increase and costs rise - costs that inevitably fall back on consumers. He emphasised that access to repair information is essential for vehicle ownership and does not infringe on the OEMs Intellectual Property Rights, “We are not “stealing IP”,” says Schmitz, likening it to buying a house. “The owner receives the plans and is automatically given full access to those plans to make repairs or modifications. The intellectual property however still belongs to the architect. Why should it not be the same in the automotive industry?” he questions. “Workshops are not asking for the blueprints to make new cars - they’re asking for the technical information needed to repair vehicles safely and responsibly.”
Elliott says it is clear there is still a critical gap in the country’s regulatory framework. “Without formal recognition of the data publishers who make that information usable, access will remain a challenge,” she explains. “We need the data publishers to be doing the leg work on obtaining and decoding the technical information so the small business owners can get on the with business of maintaining and repairing the vehicles brought in to them.”
She believes that amending the Guidelines to include data publishers would immediately address many of the current barriers to fair access. “OEMs can trust data publishers because they already have the systems and safeguards in place to protect sensitive information. If we follow the international model and create a structured, transparent pathway for data publishers to buy OEM data at fair market value, it will unlock enormous value for the independent aftermarket.”
The call for collaboration is growing louder. With trusted global and local examples to draw from, Elliott says the next move is clear. “If South Africa is serious about creating a modern, fair and future-fit automotive aftermarket, this is the reform that will make it happen. It’s time to close the loop and give our workshops access to the right data, through the right channels, for the right reasons.”
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